INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE & BIOLOGY 15608530/2002/042279281 http://www.ijab.

org

Limnological Characteristics of Ponds Fertilized with Different Nitrogen Sources on the Basis of Live Body Weight of Fishes
NAZNEEN ASLAM AND MUHAMMAD AFZAL
National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), P.O. Box 577, Jhang Road, FaisalabadPakistan Department of Zoology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad38040, Pakistan Corresponding author E-mail: nazneenaslam66@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT
Seasonal and diurnal variations in the limnological characteristics of two fertilized ponds were studied at Fisheries Research Farms, University of Agriculture Faisalabad for a period of five months. Seasonal variations showed highly significant effect on all the ecological parameters except biomass and light penetration. However, seasonal effect on dissolved oxygen, calcium and magnesium was significant. Water temperature of ponds was lower in early months but in the later part of study reverse was the case. pH remained alkaline and neutral and CO2 remained absent. Diurnal variations were highly significant on the temperature and dissolved oxygen, significant only on electrical conductivity and non-significant for the remaining ecological parameters. Key Words: Fish; Nitrogen; Pond; Limnological characters

INTRODUCTION
Limnology is commonly defined as " that branch of science which deals with the biological productivity of inland waters and with all the causal influences which determine it". A suitable environment is necessary for any organism for proper exchange of essential substances between the organism and its surroundings. The chemical nature and physical conditions of water and presence of biotic flora and fauna have profound effect on the physiological process, growth performance, population density and geographical distribution of both animal and plant species (Welch, 1952). Quality of water for fish ponds depends upon the nature of soil, source of water and also on the location of ponds (Boyd, 1981). Water quality is determined by physico-chemical criteria of the water (Zakhia & Cuq, 1993). It is well established that the productivity of a pond depends on its ecological conditions and by monitoring water quality control, the productivity can be increased for obtaining maximum sustainable yield of fish (Love, 1974). Maintenance of healthy aquatic environment and production of sufficient food organisms in ponds are primarily linked with successful pond culture operations. To keep the aquatic habitat favorable for existence of fish, physical and chemical factors like temperature, turbidity, pH, odour, dissolved gases (oxygen and CO2), salts nutrients etc. Must be watched regularly, individually or synergistically (Banerjee, 1967). Activity of fish is influenced by the seasonal and diurnal changes of these parameters. The present experiment was conducted to study the limnological characteristics in two fertilized ponds for a

period of five months from 21 May 1998 to 24 September 1998.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Water samples for the study were collected from two earthen fertilized ponds of equal size each having dimensions of 22 x 7.5 x 1.8 m (length x width x depth) located at Fisheries Research Farms, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. The ponds were served with tube well water. Both the ponds were fertilized with two different sources of nitrogen fertilizers i.e. NH4NO3 and urea while single super phosphate was added in both pond in 1:1 ratio with nitrogen fertilizer. Water samples were collected before sunrise and sunset fortnightly in polythene bottles. Air and water temperature were recorded with the help of alcohol thermometer Secchi's disc was used for determination of light penetration, while electrical conductivity, CO2 and pH were determined at pond site. Dissolved oxygen, total hardness, magnesium, calcium, total alkalinity, carbonates, bicarbonates, total solids and total dissolved solids were estimated according to Boyd (1981). Data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis using microcomputer IBM-PC with the help of software program i.e. MSTAT and MICROSTAT.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Results have been presented in Tables IIV. Statistical analysis showed highly significant effect of seasonal diurnal changes on the temperature. Water temperature remained higher than air temperature for most of the time of study period, which is not accordance with Welch (1952). Highly significant effect of seasonal variations was found on pH

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while diurnal effect was non-significant. Non-significant effect of seasonal and diurnal variations was found in the values of light penetration. Free CO2 was found to be absent through out the study period. Dissolved oxygen values were higher in cooler months and evening time and were lower in warmer months at dawn, also reported by Kumar (1992). Diurnal effect was highly significant but seasonal effect was significant only. Dissolved oxygen values range from 0.18 mg/L to 6.8 mg/L in the morning time but in the evening it ranged from 2.8 mg/L to 17.2 mg/L. Total alkalinity values remained higher than the total hardness values. Highly significant variations were found but diurnal variations were

non-significant. In the morning, the variations ranged from 300 mg/L to 520 mg/L while in the evening it ranged from 260 mg/L to 620 mg/L. Total hardness showed highly significant seasonal variations while diurnal effects was non-significant. Morning values of total hardness fluctuated between 100 mg/L to 382 mg/L but evening values ranged from 174 mg/L to 340 mg/L. Highly significant effect of seasonal variations was found in the amounts of chlorides while diurnal effects was non-significant. In the morning the variations were ranged from 82 mg/L to 230 mg/L but in the evening the variations ranged from 81 mg/L to 212 mg/L. Seasonal and diurnal variations in the amount of biomass

Table I. Seasonal and diurnal observations of water and air temperature of two experimental ponds
Evening Water Temp. Air Temp. Water Temp. Date Pond 1 Pond 2 P1 P2 21-05-98 28.0 27.0 26.9 36.0 32.5 32.0 04-06-98 25.8 25.4 25.6 37.0 33.4 33.0 18-06-98 28.0 29.0 29.0 38.0 34.0 33.5 02-07-98 25.5 30.0 30.4 28.5 33.0 33.0 16-07-98 25.0 28.9 28.9 31.0 32.3 32.0 30-07-98 25.5 30.0 29.8 28.5 33.5 33.8 13-08-98 26.0 29.9 30.0 28.0 31.0 32.0 27-08-98 25.0 27.0 27.5 29.0 32.0 31.5 10-09-98 27.0 29.0 29.0 28.0 32.0 32.3 24-09-98 25.0 27.0 27.0 26.0 28.0 28.5 Mean 28.32 28.41 32.10 32.16 Means= Water temperature Pond 1 = 30.21 A; Morning = 28.365; Water temperature; Pond 2 = 30.28 A; Evening = 32.130 Air Temp. Morning

Mean 29.600 c 29.250 c 31.375 a 31.600 a 30.450 b 31.775 a 30.723 b 29.500 c 30.575 b 27.623 d 30.247

Table II. Seasonal and diurnal observations of dissolved oxygen (mg/L) of two experimental ponds
Morning Date Pond 1 Pond 2 21-05-98 3.6 6.4 04-06-98 6.8 5.6 18-06-98 1.6 1.2 02-07-98 1.2 0.8 16-07-98 1.2 1.2 30-07-98 3.6 2.0 13-08-98 1.2 4.0 27-08-98 1.6 1.6 10-09-98 1.2 1.6 24-09-98 4.4 4.4 Mean 2.64 2.88 Means= Pond 1 = 5.20; Morning = 2.76; Pond 2 = 5.22; Evening = 7.66 Evening Pond 1 10.0 17.2 10.0 6.8 7.6 5.2 4.4 2.8 4.4 9.2 7.76 Pond 2 8.8 8.0 12.4 6.4 3.6 6.0 5.6 9.2 8.4 7.2 7.56 Mean 7.20 ab 9.40 a 6.30 ab 3.80 b 3.40 b 4.20 b 3.80 b 3.80 b 3.90 b 6.30 ab 5.22

Table III. Seasonal and diurnal observations of total alkalinity (mg/L) of two experimental ponds
Morning Date Pond 1 Pond 2 21-05-98 340 360 04-06-98 500 360 18-06-98 480 400 02-07-98 480 400 16-07-98 520 400 30-07-98 460 460 13-08-98 500 520 27-08-98 300 400 10-09-98 400 340 24-09-98 480 440 Mean 446 408 Means= Pond 1 = 447; Morning = 427; Pond 2 = 407; Evening = 427 Evening Pond 1 420 520 540 400 620 420 440 260 400 460 448 Pond 2 400 400 480 420 620 420 340 280 340 360 406 Mean 380 cd 445 b 475 b 425 bcd 540 a 440 bc 450 b 310 e 370 de 435 bc 427

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Table IV. Seasonal and diurnal observations of total hardness (mg/L) of two experimental ponds
Morning Date Pond 1 Pond 2 Pond 1 21-05-98 218 224 174 04-06-98 132 100 302 18-06-98 274 276 230 02-07-98 280 240 286 16-07-98 274 266 234 30-07-98 260 216 210 13-08-98 302 304 292 27-08-98 270 228 236 10-09-98 382 300 294 24-09-98 300 320 340 Mean 269.20 247.40 259.80 Means= Pond 1 = 264.50; Morning = 258.30; Pond 2 = 253.00; Evening = 259.20 Evening Pond 2 260 270 236 252 210 196 268 212 380 302 258.60 Mean 319.00 de 201.00 e 254.00 cde 264.50 bcd 246.00 cde 220.50 de 291.50 abc 236.50 de 339.00 a 315.50 ab 258.75

were non-significant. The morning values ranged from 16 mg/L to 192 mg/L while the evening values fluctuated between 26 mg/L to 206 mg/L in both the ponds.

REFERENCES
Banerjee, S.M., 1967. Water quality and soil condition in some states of India in relation to fish production. Inland J. Fish., 14: 14455. Boyd, C.E., 1981. Water quality in Warm Water Fish Ponds. (2nd Ed.), p. 359. Craftmaster Printers, Inc., Opelika, Albama.

Kumar, D., 1992. Fish culture in undrainable ponds. A Manual for Extension. FAO Fisheries technical paper No. 325, p. 239. Rome. Love, R.M., 1974. The Chemical Biology of Fishes, p. 547. Academic Press London. Welch, P.S., 1952. Limnology, (2nd ed.), pp: 538. McGraw Hill Book Co. Inc. New York. Zakhia, N. and J.L. Cuq, 1993. General survey on the quality of dried and commercialized tilapia in Mali. Proc. FAO Expert Consultation on Fish Technology in Africa. ACCRA. Ghanna. No. 467. Suppl. pp: 8692. (Received 04 December 2002; Accepted 11 January 2002)

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